Top 90 Quotes & Sayings by Charles Churchill - Page 2

Enough of satire; in less harden'd times Great was her force, and mighty were her rhymes. I've read of men, beyond man's daring brave, Who yet have trembled at the strokes she gave; Whose souls have felt more terrible alarms From her one line, than from a world in arms.

Wherever waves can roll, and winds can blow.

Who all in raptures their own works rehearse, And drawl out measur'd prose, which they call verse.

Wit, who never once Forgave a brother, shall forgive a dunce.

When satire flies abroad on falsehood's wing, Short is her life, and impotent her sting; But when to truth allied, the wound she gives Sinks deep, and to remotest ages lives.

Who often, but without success, have prayed for apt Alliteration's artful aid.

The Scots are poor, cries surly English pride; True is the charge, nor by themselves denied. Are they not then in strictest reason clear, Who wisely come to mend their fortunes here?

Who shall dispute what the Reviewers say? Their word's sufficient; and to ask a reason, In such a state as theirs, is downright treason.

Though folly, robed in purple, shines, Though vice exhausts Peruvian mines, Yet shall they tremble and turn pale When satire wields her mighty flail.

All hunt for fame, but most mistake the way.

What it 't to us, if taxes rise or fall, Thanks to our fortune, we pay none at all. Let muckworms who in dirty acres deal, Lament those hardships which we cannot feel, His grace who smarts, may bellow if he please, But must I bellow too, who sit at ease? By custom safe, the poets' numbers flow, Free as the light and air some years ago. No statesman e'er will find it worth his pains To tax our labours, and excise our brains. Burthens like these with earthly buildings bear, No tributes laid on castles in the air.

The virtuous to those mansions go Where pleasures unembitter'd flow, Where, leading up a jocund band, Vigor and Youth dance hand in hand, Whilst Zephyr, with harmonious gales, Pipes softest music through the vales, And Spring and Flora, gaily crown'd, With velvet carpet spread the ground; With livelier blush where roses bloom, And every shrub expires perfume.

Tis mighty easy o'er a glass of wine On vain refinements vainly to refine, To laugh at poverty in plenty's reign, To boast of apathy when out of pain, And in each sentence, worthy of the schools, Varnish'd with sophistry, to deal out rules Most fit for practice, but for one poor fault That into practice they can ne'er be brought.

Who, with tame cowardice familiar grown, would hear my thoughts, but fear to speak their own.

Even in a hero's heart Discretion is the better part.

Whom drink made wits, though nature made them fools.

Ourselves are to ourselves the cause of ill.

Constant attention wears the active mind, Blots out our pow'rs, and leaves a blank behind.

He hurts me most who lavishly commends.

Within the brain's most secret cells, A certain lord chief justice dwells, Of sov'reign power, whom one and all, With common voice we reason call.

Drawn by conceit from reason's plan How vain is that poor creature man; How pleas'd in ev'ry paltry elf To grate about that thing himself.

No tribute is laid on castles in the air.

Men the most infamous are fond of fame, And those who fear not guilt yet start at shame.

Genius is of no country; her pure ray Spreads all abroad, as general as the day.

The oak, when living, monarch of the wood; The English oak, which, dead, commands the flood.

Man and wife, Coupled together for the sake of strife.

If honor calls, where'er she points the way The sons of honor follow, and obey.

England, a happy land we know, Where follies naturally grow, Where without culture they arise, And tow'r above the common size.

Satire, whilst envy and ill-humor sway The mind of man, must always make her way; Nor to a bosom, with discretion fraught, Is all her malice worth a single thought. The wise have not the will, nor fools the power, To stop her headstrong course; within the hour Left to herself, she dies; opposing strife Gives her fresh vigor, and prolongs her life.

If you mean to profit, learn to praise.